January 2005
Pivot Irrigation:
Problems, Solutions and What's New
This time of year, the irrigation water is off, but
Rob Lane of La Grande, Ore., is mentally preparing for the next growing
season. He grows 305 acres of seed potatoes under pivot irrigation using
Valley, Wade Rain and Pringle systems.
This spring, like many growers that use pivots, he'll make sure his systems
are ready to go before his potatoes are in the ground.
"I go out and make sure the boxes are filled with oil and that I
don't have any leaks. I also make sure my tires are running, ideally with
the same amount of air, because if they're not, one might drag,"
he says.
Pivots require a lot of attention and maintenance now and during the summer.
They are expensive to install and can take time to get used to. But the
benefits of pivots, according to Lane, are worth the effort. He's been
using this method of irrigation for 15 years.
"With a pivot, I can push a button and it'll start turning,"
he explains. "Or, if you have the brand new Valley system, you can
set it up at your house.
Potato Conference Schedules
Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Idaho Seed Seminar
NPC Seed Seminar
Helping the Seed Potato Industry Reach Its Peak
The potato industry needs to do more to reach its
peak, according to the theme carried through the National Potato Council
23rd Annual Seed Seminar held Dec.10-11 in Colorado Springs, Colo. Speakers
discussed topics aimed to help the potato industry rise to the challenges
of today's marketplace.
"It depends on you to make the potato a player," urged Dr. Henry
Thompson of Colorado State University's Cancer Prevention Laboratory,
speaking to growers. "There isn't very much variability. Other food
products are colorful-potatoes look very bland."
New varieties, including reds and purples, will help to spice up options
for consumers, he explained. In addition, taking advantage of a weight-conscious
society is one way growers can maximize profit.
"We're going to be looking for food combinations that promote weight
loss regulation," he said. "I think the consumer will respond."
Meritorious Service Award Given to Researcher
Charles Higgins was given the National Potato Council's
Meritorious Service Award by Keith Masser, president of the NPC, at the
NPC Seed Seminar held in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Higgins was raised on a ranch-farm near Yoder, Colo., and worked on neighbors'
fields moving hand irrigation pipe in potatoes, alfalfa and other crops.
He received a B.S. in biology and chemistry from Southern Colorado State
College in 1969. He married Judy and they honeymooned as Peace Corps teachers
in Ethiopia for two years.
Colorado's Worley Named NPC's Seed Grower
of the Year
Carl L Worley was named the National Potato Council
Seed Grower of the Year by Keith Masser, president of the NPC, at the
NPC Seed Seminar held in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Worley was born and raised on his family's potato farm in the San Luis
Valley in Colorado. At the age of 14, Worley began growing potato seed
as a 4-H project. He continued it through high school until he was drafted.
He chose to join the ROTC at Colorado A&M, now known as Colorado State
University. After receiving a degree in animal husbandry, Worley served
in the infantry at Fort Carson, Oklahoma, and then in Korea. In 1954,
Worley returned to farming and potato seed growing with his wife Audrey
and daughter Annette.